The principal of the St John Baptist High School in Thane is in the middle of a controversy after he insulted a burqa-clad intern and asked her to leave the school because she was in her religious clothing
While he may live his life following the Ten Commandments, being respectful of other religions is definitely not a part of Father Michael Pinto’s life. The principal of the St John Baptist High School in Thane is in the middle of a controversy after he insulted a burqa-clad intern and asked her to leave the school because she was in her religious clothing.
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Father Michael Pinto
Sanad Shaikh was asked by Father Pinto “to keep her religion at home” and “not teach students wearing a burqa”. Shaikh, a resident of Rabodi is in the second year of her B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) from MCT’s College of Education and Research in Airoli. Her college had sent her and a few others for a month-long internship at the school.
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Speaking to mid-day, Sanad recounted the discrimination she faced on Monday, “At around 8 am, I was standing outside the admin- istration office, adjoining the principal’s office to complete the reporting process. Father Michael Pinto was standing outside the office as well.”
Soon, Pinto shot a strange look at Sanad. “He asked me, ‘Do you teach in this burqa? and I replied saying yes, I do. He said, ‘This is not allowed here. It’s a Catholic School. We want the students of our school to go forward and not backward,’” said Sanad.
Humiliated
“Moving his hands towards the gate he screamed, ‘Keep your religion at home’ and insulted me in front of a huge crowd that had gathered outside his cabin. He also told my classmates who were standing with me to inform the head of the institute [her college] not to send these kinds of people at his school. The language and remark he used were embarrassing,” added Shaikh, who ran back to her family in Rabodi after the humiliating episode. The cops then called up the principal who was questioned for more than 6 hours before being allowed to leave.
“Had the principal asked me personally to avoid wearing the burqa in school, I would have followed it. But insulting the religion and burqa in front of a huge crowd is not proper. Students come here to learn,” she added. Later, she and her family approached the Naupada police station to register a case.
Ironically, the family Pinto chastised for their religion have studied at his school. Sanad’s father Shakeel Shaikh was a student of St John Baptist’s. He is a retired engineer. Sanad too was a student of a Catholic school and studied at the Holy Cross Convent School in Thane.
Brother says
Nadir Shaikh, Sanad’s elder brother said, “The police have co-operated with us. We were about to register a case against the principal. The principal should teach students how to be united and help each other rather than making biased statements based on religion. The attitude and remark of the principal will create a bad image in the society. The senior members and staff of the school approached us and apologised for the mistake and asked us to avoid registering a case.” At the police station, Pinto said he didn’t intend for his remarks to sound that way, and apologised to the girl.
“We too are from well-educated family and our intention is not to harm any one. So we settled it amongst ourselves and avoided a case,” Nadir added, and said the school authorities have initiated an inquiry against Pinto.
Gajanan Kabdule, Senior Police Inspector, Naupada police station said, “After the girl approached us, we called the principal. We took the statement from both side and were about to register a case. But both the party settled it among themselves and requested not to register a case. Taking a note of that, we let them leave and also asked the principal to avoid such biased statements.”
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